EXCLUSIVE: Officer seriously injured in wrong-way crash back at work

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A special roll call at Milwaukee Police District 3 on Thursday, March 28th marked the return of Officer Josh Albert. This was Officer Albert's first time reporting for duty since he was hit head on by a wrong-way driver.

"We're extremely happy to see him back," Michael Brunson said.

"From me and my family, from the bottom of our hearts, I want to thank all of you for your support through this," Officer Albert said.

On September 5th, Albert was driving home from District 3 on I-94, when he was hit by a 23-year-old drunk driver with her headlights off.

Albert's partner, Katie Anderer was just a few cars behind him.

"I see that night every night, or every day.  I can still relive it all the time, so it's great to have him here," Anderer said.

Doctors said Albert's heart stopped twice that night. The crash shattered his pelvis and ankle, fractured his spine, punctured a lung and ruptured his diaphragm. His partner was by his side at the hospital.

"She's not just a friend anymore. She's family. She's like a sister to me," Albert said.

In October, a benefit was thrown in Albert's honor, and it wouldn't be the last time his co-workers stepped up to help. When Albert ran out of sick days, they gave him their own.

"They donated time to keep me on payroll here. I burned through everything about in the middle of December, so they donated enough time to keep me on payroll with health insurance until I came back," Albert said.

Albert has had at least 10 surgeries so far. He began walking in December, but is still in a lot of pain.

"Talking with doctors, and I probably will be for the rest of my life," Albert said.

For now, he is on office duty, but hopes to be back on the streets by June. Recovery has been hard, but Albert says forgiveness came easy.

"This wasn't intentional.  She didn't get in her car that night thinking 'I'm gonna go hit Josh,' she just made a bad choice," Albert said.